Terry Tortoise toddled to the corner of the pool,

fifty fishes swam around, a big delicious school;

all the minnows laughed to see how slowly Terry came,

then decided they would have some fun, and play a game.

One by one they turned till they all floated on their side,

rose up to the surface and lay drifting on the tide;

Terry reached the eater's edge and saw the lifeless bunch,

slowly smiled and slid into the water for some lunch.

All the fishes waited as the tortoise made his dive,

when he reached the surface then the whole school came alive!

Terry blinked as breakfast scattered all around the pond,

then he nodded slowly - realizing he'd been conned.

How the minnows laughed - the stupid tortoise - slow and weak,

suddenly a fishie found himself in Terry's beak!

then another, and some others, swallowed down the hatch,

Terry was too fast for them, the fish had met their match.

Only one remained and Terry looked him in the eye,

told him he was free to go, the fish began to cry;

"How did you get faster?" and the tortoise waved a hand,

"I may do things slow - but you forgot: that's just on land!